Frozen Holidays 1& 2 Eudorus and Zelus Page 9

  Martha had the worst teeth Em had ever seen. They were broken off with just stubs sticking out and they were a blackish green. Her hair was greasy most of the time. Em thought she only took a monthly bath since body odor was also a problem. Last Christmas she had bought her a collection of expensive perfumes, bubble bath, and skin lotions. The woman had never used it, not even once.

  The worst thing probably was that she couldn’t cook and was too lazy to clean. The only thing she did do was take decent care of Joy. She made sure the basics were seen to and not one extra thing above that. Joy was such a beautiful girl and so good. How Martha could keep herself clear of emotional entanglements with a child was more than Em could understand. Children and pets, animals of all kinds really, were Em’s personal Achilles heel. She grew attached easily and it was painful when they parted.

  Raker had used Joy against her even before she was born. Maybe he had recognized the way Em yearned to be free of Origin and him. Em wasn’t sure but it made sense. He’d told her they finally managed to breed a god child and that if Em wasn’t there, no one would protect the child as she grew up. It was ironic that the child he used to control her was the very catalyst to the actions she was taking now.

  Zelus, he had said some of his god buddies called him Zee, had drawn her in like a magnet. She had never felt so feminine in her life. He could be dangerous to her but only if she allowed him to be. She had to overlook the way he made her feel so she could concentrate on protecting the gods in her care the best she could since they were so close to being freed. She and they had bonded on some level, she was their main contact to the outside world and the only one who would stand up for them. She wouldn’t go so far as to say they were friends, but they had an understanding. She hadn’t told them help was coming, she couldn’t risk the word getting out. She had only told them things would get better.

  In a way, they already had. She had taken it upon herself to improve their diet and to do all testing herself. A gentle hand on the needle or scalpel could make all the difference. She had never wanted to experiment on live patients. Raker had left her no choice because as the abuse had mounted, she had taken over more and more of the testing herself.

  Rheus and Themus, the gods Raker was keeping, were holding up maybe even better than expected but only because of her intervention. She was glad that action would be taken soon, she didn’t think she could take much more. She wondered for the hundredth time what had gone so wrong in her life.

  Once her parents had died and she had gone to live with her mother’s sister. Aunt May hadn’t been good or bad. She had never married or had children because she she had been too wrapped up in her own life and quite frankly, herself. She was an actress of some minor repute always trying to claim the real fame that was just out of her reach. She made more money through the gifts and care of her lovers, most of which were famous actors, writers, directors, or producers. She went from one to the next with as little time in between as possible.

  Em had been raised mostly by the housekeepers May always had one wherever she went. Once Em was thirteen, she had gone to the best boarding school money could buy. When her aunt died of aids, Em was sixteen, she liquidated all her aunt’s assets and used the money for her education. It had been one of the reasons she had wanted to be a researcher. She had wanted to cure diseases and improve the lives of those with illnesses like aids and cancer. She and her aunt had never been close, but May had been there for her. She‘d been her family and even in death had left her what she needed to finish raising herself.

  She was working on some of that, but she was having to do that secretly while she outwardly worked only on Raker’s projects. She had never considered herself a bad person, only a very unlucky one. Now she was about to turn her whole life inside out for the love of a child and whether she admitted it or not, because it was the right thing to do. She took care of Joy and carried her to her room with her. She put her in the bed on the side that was by the wall. She’d always heard you shouldn’t let you children sleep with you, but once in a while she just need her baby right there by her. She thought Joy needed it too. Joy was asleep before Em was even ready for bed. Dressed in a comfortable cotton gown, Em settled in beside her daughter. She was a sleep in moments.

  She smelled coffee, something must be wrong. Martha never fixed coffee in the morning. She rarely got up before noon. Joy had already gotten up. She must have slipped down to the bottom of the bed to avoid waking Em. Children were very resourceful. She knew she needed to get up and check on Joy. The house was childproofed but children needed constant supervision.

  She got up, showered, dried, and dressed. Martha had indeed gotten up and made coffee. No breakfast, but just coffee was an improvement over the nothing that she usually fixed. Joy was on the floor playing with her toys quietly. She knew Martha didn’t like noise so she didn’t make any. Em hated that Joy couldn’t even play like and average kid or with friends. It was one more thing that was about to change.

  Martha watched her warily making her wonder if something was going on she didn’t know about. She poured herself a cup of coffee and got a bowl for some cereal. She poured some milk over her cereal and sat down looking back at Martha. The woman had a vicious look on her face that would alarm anyone that hadn’t dealt with her as much as Em had. Something was up and she hoped the raid on this place would happen in time to stop whatever Martha seemed to be looking forward to.

  Em finished eating and kissed Joy before she went downstairs to the lab. She went to see Rheus first. A scientist had named him the male form of Rhea, a form he made up. Rhea was the sister/wife of Cronos and considered the mother of the gods and goddesses but not really a goddess in her own right. Em knew that they had hoped Rheus would father many gods but he hadn’t. She knew he wasn’t Joy’s father and if he had fathered any of the other babies that were expected to be born from the god cocktail, a collection of small amounts of seed from many gods, they’d used to impregnate the unsuspecting women, Raker would be treating him better.

  Rheus looked fine and he was in the caged area. That meant no one was testing or experimenting on him. She looked past him and saw Themus was in with him as well. She held out her hand to Rheus and he grasped it in his. He held it gently and there was a half smile on his face. Themus stayed back, the breeding attempts had made him bitter toward all human females and even though he knew she was against those attempts, had even tried to stop them, he couldn’t help how he felt. Her attempts had limited the breeding experiments, but Raker picked sadistic bitches who inflicted pain when they didn’t get their way.

  Themus had been named after Themis, a Titaness. Titans were the precursors of the gods. Themis was said to be the personification of natural order, law both human and divine, and to be of good counsel. Em suspected he would make a good negotiator for the gods. He would be good at dealing with politicians and industry leaders. It was a thankless job and she doubted anyone else would want it. It would be easier for him if he were skilled at it.

  She wanted to tell them so badly, but a couple of days and they’d be out of here. One of the guards was coming in the room. She dropped Rheus’s hand quickly and turned to face him.

  “Dr. Emma, looks like you’re going to lose one of your boys?”

  “What do you mean, Hank?” Hank was one of the nicer guards. It might just be because he had a crush on her but he treated the gods and everyone around him better than the lunkheads he worked with did.

  “I was told Themus is leaving tomorrow. Raker’s coming in person to escort him to his new home. Rheus won’t be here much longer either. He’s shutting this place down. No mention about you or the girl. Martha’s going with Themus and the brood mares are going with Rheus. He’s pulling them over to that clinic by the ocean.”

  She understood what Martha had been so happy about. That was the look, triumph. On her, all emotions looked scary. Thankfully, Hank had told her what was happening. Who the hell was Martha that Raker had such loyalty to her?
Martha wasn’t his lover, he had hit on Em and some of the more attractive ladies but no one like Martha. She was just too old and smelly for him. Raker was picky and fastidious. He never messed with what he termed as breeders and with all the rejection he’d received from personnel, she thought he’d turned exclusively to paid companions. Maybe the nasty old bitch was family.

  Em knew she would have to call and let Zelus know about this new complication. It would be harder to do with Martha feeling like Em was about to be taken out. Martha would watch her like a hawk and even the bathroom might not be a safe place to talk. Half the facility was bugged and most of it was covered by cameras. Maybe Em would just go out for lunch and take Joy with her. She would take her to a playroom where grown men hanging around without kids would draw suspicion. She’d done it before but only under the most desperate circumstances. This was one of those desperate times.

  With that decision made, she got to work trying to find out who the women were that Raker called breeders and where they worked for him at. It wasn’t here and it wasn’t at the ocean side facility. Well except for that one poor girl whose husband had died. Raker had bragged about taking advantage of a widow with a small child as if he’d defeated an army single handed. The man was a bastard without a heart.

  Em worked through her computer doing a little hacking in the main system. She needed to get some information on the breeders so she could find them. The only thing she did manage to find was a list of businesses Raker owned. She sent the list to one of her anonymous emails. Maybe the women worked at one of those businesses. It was a place to start and now that it was almost lunchtime, she would check with Rheus and Themus before leaving for the day.

  She hurried up to her apartment. She had spent too long with Rheus and Themus. The guards hadn’t arranged for them to be fed because they said they were leaving anyway. She explained to the idiots that a time hadn’t been set and Raker might even end up leaving them here. She waited until they brought them food before she left them.

  Martha was lounging in Em’s favorite chair when she entered the door. She knew that chair was off limits but when Em shot her a chastising look, she just sent a rebellious look back. Change was in the air, but whether it was as Martha expected or what Em hoped for, remained to be seen. Em went to her room, opened her safe to grab her purse, and went out to pick up Joy.

  “Where are you going?” Martha asked with barely veiled suspicion.

  “Out to lunch,” Em said because it was easier to reply than to argue.

  She was out the door in a second and had a tail before she was in her car. She put Joy in the back in her child car seat and they headed out with two instead of the usual one car trailing them. Martha must have some authority to send double the shadows after her. Em planned to lead them on a merry chase before going to the playroom where they couldn’t follow.

  She decided to go to eat lunch at a café she liked down the road. The parking was very limited and she grabbed the last spot that was nearby. She enjoyed her food knowing they had dropped a guy and the drivers were circling around hoping a space would come available. She took her time eating and Joy ate quickly but she had a coloring book to play with. After killing an hour at the café, they got back in her car and went to a huge toy store. She found all the toys she had planned to buy for Joy for Christmas and played while they were waiting for the store employees to wrap them in return for a donation to a local toy drive.

  Once they left there, she went straight to a popular play room. Most parents dropped their kids off so they could go shopping or do whatever they needed to do. Em stayed and set up at a table with her computer and phone. The loud background noises of children playing would make it impossible for anyone to overhear her conversation. She watched Joy for a moment. She loved playing with other children. She swore to herself again that she would get something like a normal life for her. At Olympus they could live like a family. There would be other children, at least in due time. They would have privacy and she would have more time to spend with Joy.

  She’d put it off as long as she could. It was time to call Zelus. “Hello,” he said. She recognized his voice and wasn’t surprised he didn’t identify himself. He wasn’t sure it was her calling. What if someone else had found her phone?

  “Zelus, there’s a problem. Raker plans to move Themus soon. Martha, the woman he hired as my housekeeper, I think she’s a manager. She’s acting creepy and I think she doubled my usual guards.”

  “Don’t worry about Raker. He won’t be interfering with you. Just keep an eye on things and tell me if anything else changes. We’re almost ready, just stay strong.”

  His reassurances shouldn’t make a difference, yet they did. She felt calmer than she had all day. Her mind conjured up his image, when he was next to her in the tub. He’d looked delightfully sexy. When he’s held her on his lap and kissed her, she’d wanted him to take her all the way.

  “Em!”

  Oops, she must of stopped listening to him. “Yes?”

  “I asked you if you were alright.”

  “Yes, I’m fine as long as Raker doesn’t drag Themus off somewhere never to be seen again.”

  “He won’t. Can you interfere if someone else takes it upon themselves to try to remove him?”

  “Depends on who it is but I think I can stop them.”

  “Okay, just sit tight and do your best. Remember that it won’t be long and you’ll all be out of there.”

  “Oh, yeah. I just remembered, Raker owns a bunch of businesses. I think the breeders might be working at one of them.”

  “You call them breeders?” Zelus’s voice was cold.

  “Raker calls them breeders. All I know about them is what he’s told me. I’d call them by name if I knew it.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m just a little sensitive about people being used by Origin and treated like they’re less than people.”

  “It’s okay, I understand. I am just trying to help. Those women are in danger because of the rapid growth and high energy requirements of the babies. They have to be found.”

  “If you have the list send it to my email. It’s Zelus@Olympus. god. Did you get that?”

  “Yes and I already sent it. I hope it helps.”

  “It will because we need to dismantle all Origin resources and eventually one of those will lead to the mothers. Just remember, I’m here for you.”

  She’d never heard sweeter words than that and they stuck with her as she and Joy went back to their apartment to face Martha.

  Chapter 4

  Moving Day

  Today was the day that two gods would be freed and Zelus would claim his mate. The plan had changed and he knew Em wouldn’t be happy. The orders had come directly from Zeus so that was just it. Zelus didn’t like it either, it might endanger his mate. The new plan required that the facility be taken down but the he, Em, and new guards, gods of course, stay in the hopes of luring in other Origin managers and employees. It was hoped that they would be able to find other gods and the mothers who carried god babies.

  Zeus felt it was worth a try and since they had captured Raker’s personal assistant and she was cooperating, he felt the risk was negligible. Zelus wasn’t as certain that was the case. He knew Em wouldn’t want to go along with it but she really had no choice. He knew Zeus would cover all the risks he could and they would have to deal with what couldn’t be covered. He had decided not to share this information with her until the raid. No use in upsetting her or throwing her off her game. She needed to concentrate on the raid, not on what would follow.

  He was excited, in an odd way. He would be with his mate and meet his new daughter. Em claimed her so he would too. He knew it was a package deal and he loved kids anyway. At only two years old, she would accept him in whatever role he decided to have. He would have it all, a mate and a child. Joy was a goddess making her a member of the Olympus family already. Their family was expanding quickly with gods being recovered, mates being found, and children coming
in both through mates and through Origin’s machinations.

  It was a good thing that they had been given some of Origin’s old facilities and that they would be using them for gods and for demons. He’d heard Lu had decided on one of the facilities. It was big enough to hold all the demons including any they might find in Origin’s hands. It was also big enough to hold mates and children, up to a point. Even though it was for demon’s use, gods would be welcome as well. Neither Zeus or Lu wanted a divide between them. After all, demons were gods so they were all family.

  It was almost time to go. They had done their work with the supplier that delivered goods to Em’s facility. Olympus security, or Cherish personally, had spoken with the owner of the business and explained who ran the facility. He had immediately agreed to cooperate fully. He was aware the US had strict regulations in place about Origin, the gods, and anyone suspected of assisting Origin in their attempt to keep gods enslaved. He probably feared his business would be seized for doing business with Raker who was an Origin manager, if he didn’t help them out.

  He went downstairs to meet the team. “Hermes, what the hell are you doing still here?”

  “Cherish was needed to talk to Walker, the delivery services company owner. So I was here and Hades said I would go.”

  Hades was a bossy asshole at times. That was probably why most gods delighted in watching him and Doc fight. She always won. He counted six other gods, younger inexperienced ones like him. They rarely left Olympus, but they would be fine for guard duty at Em’s facility. All gods were super strong, fast, and trained in every form of fighting known. It was what Origin used them for, that and research. The younger ones like Zelus had been trained, sent on a mission or two, then relegated to the research facilities. It had been an easier life than going on the missions the others had for most of them. The demons were the ones who had been used for the experiments that were life threatening. He was happy they would free two gods soon, but he had hoped to find some demons to spring. They had suffered the worst and needed help the most.